Medicated insert for telephones



Jan. 8, 1935. I 5 G BREGGER 1,987,047

MEDICATED INSERT FOR TELEPHONES Filed July 24, 1933 I NVE N TO R 5owwwel RBI-eggs!" B W I ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 2- Claims.

The present invention relates, to an antiseptic insert for a telephonemouthpiece. In using a telephone, the users breath is usually directedinto the mouthpiece and moisture from the breath of the user is apt tocollect on the mouthpiece and in time develop an unsanitary conditiontherein, which may at times result in the transmission of communicablediseases to subsequent users and in any event creates an impression ofuncleanliness, which is objectionable to a great many users oftelephones.

An object of the present invention is to make an improved and simplifiedantiseptic insert for a telephone mouthpiece.

In order to attain this object there is provided, in accordance with onefeature of the invention a tablet adapted to be mounted within atelephone mouthpiece to be fixedly retained therein, but being adaptedto be readily removed therefrom when it is necessary to replace thetablet with a fresh one.

The tablet is apertured to provide air passages therethrough so as notto interfere with the passage of sound waves through the mouthpiece.

' The tablet is prepared of material which will diffuse an antisepticsubstance into the air so as to maintain the mouthpiece in a state ofantiseptic cleanliness.

These and other features of the invention will be more fully brought outin the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherem:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a portion of atelephone set having a tablet embodying the present invention installedin the mouthpiece thereof.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the mouthpiece shownin Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in perspective showing the rear or inner side of thetablet having a retaining strip mounted therein; and

Figure 4 is a plan View of a metal retaining strip used to mount thetablet in position in the mouthpiece of a telephone.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a telephone instrument 1 is of aconventional type, having a conventional mouthpiece 2 threadedlyinserted in the upper end thereof. The mouthpiece is provided with thecustomary perforated transverse partition 3. A medicated tablet 4 is ofa size to fit within the mouthpiece as illustrated in Figure 2 and asshown in Figures 1 and 2 is of a size to engage the side walls of themouthpiece 2 above the transverse partition 3 so as to facilitatecirculation of air through perforations '7 in the tablet 4. A pair oflarger perforations 5 and 6 are provided in the tablet spaced inwardlyfrom the perforations '7, and through the perforations '5 and 6 a metalretaining member 8 is passed. The

ends of the metal retaining member 8 are of reduced width, as at 9, and10, so as to pass through perforations in the partition 3. The ends 9and 10 of the member 8 are bent outwardly, as shown in Figure 2, toretain the disk in position in the mouthpiece.

A satisfactory formula for making the tablet is as follows: bluevitriol, fifteen parts; formalin,

two parts; oil of lavender, two parts; binder, such as starch or sugar,eighty parts. The exact formula is not essential to the invention, sinceany substance having the required degree of hardness and porosity, incombination with any volatile oils having antiseptic characteristicswould be suitable for the purpose, and numberless such' compounds couldbe prepared by one skilled in the art.

In using the device the mouthpiece 2 is removed by unscrewing it fromthe instrument 1 and the retaining member 8 is bent to substantially Ushape, as indicated in Figure 2, and inserted through the openings 5 and6. The ends 9 and 10 of the member 8 are then inserted in openings inthe partition wall 3 so that the end portions of the member 8 projectbeyond the partition 3. The projecting end portions are then bentoutwardly, as'shown in Figure 2,.to retain the member 8, and with it thetablet 4, in position in the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is then screwedback onto the instrument 1 and no further attention is required untilthe antiseptic properties of the tablet have been dissipated, which maybe detected by the absence of odor, whereupon the tablet may be readilyremoved and a fresh tablet inserted in its place.

I claim:

1. An antiseptic device for a telephone mouthpiece having a perforatedelement, comprising a tablet having difiusible antiseptic materialembodied therein, a pair of support members positioned to support saidtablet wider than the perforations in said mouthpiece, each of saidsupport members having a narrower end portion adapted to enter aperforation in said mouthpiece to support said tablet at a distance fromsaid partition equal to the length of the wider portions of said supportmembers projecting beyond said tablet.

2. An antiseptic device for atelephone mouthpiece, having a perforatedelement; comprising a tablet embodying a diffusing antiseptic substance.

support means having a portion thereof adapted to enter a perforation insaid perforated element, and stop means carried by said support means tolimit the distance said support means enter said perforations to whollysupport said tablet at a distance from said perforated elementdetermined by the position of said stop means.

